Chelsea now appears to be Victor Osimhen's only Premier League option after the striker reportedly snubbed potential moves to Manchester United or Arsenal. Osimhen, 26, remains a transfer target for a host of European clubs after finishing his loan spell at Galatasaray.
The Nigerian star’s season in Turkey further enhanced his reputation as a clinical finisher, scoring 37 times in 41 club games. A return to parent club Napoli appears inconceivable after his fallout with manager Antonio Conte 12 months ago, with Gli Azzurri winning the Serie A title in his absence. Osimhen also had a domestic crown of his own to celebrate, with Galatasaray retaining the Super Lig.
According to Malaysian media outlet Sabah, the Turkish club have offered Osimhen £12.8million a year in wages to stay and a further £8.5m in sponsorship deals. Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal are also said to have offered him a mammoth £42.6m annual salary.
Due to those financial offers, Osimhen has now reportedly rejected interest from United and the Gunners. However, he’s said to have remained in talks with Chelsea, with the possibility of a switch to Stamford Bridge still on the table.
Last summer, Osimhen opted to head to Turkey after failing to finalise a permanent move away from Naples. His £100m release clause, which the Italian club inserted when he signed a new deal in December 2023, seemingly put off a host of European clubs.
However, that clause has now dropped to £65m for clubs outside of Italy. It’s a figure likely to be within Chelsea’s budget, with the Blues having secured the financial windfall of Champions League football and currently participating in FIFA’s lucrative Club World Cup.